Rapper Chris Kelly Of Kris Kross Dead At 34

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Kris Kross will make you “jump jump” I love that song! I was so sad to hear the news that Chris Kelly from the group Kris Kross died last night. Jump was a massive radio hit, and that song brings back so many memories for me. I was a DJ on the radio just starting my career and that’s one those songs and moments in time I’ll always remember. Hip hop was at the peak of crossing over to Top 40 radio and here was this young rap duo with this catchy song that music fans were going nuts for!! It was one of those songs as a DJ that I didn’t mind playing every hour on the hour.

So what exactly happened is still being pieced together but it looks like Chris Kelly died of a drug overdose. His mother, Donna Kelly Pratte, and his record label So So Def released this statement:

It is with deep sadness that we announce that our beloved Chris Kelly has passed away on May 1,” the statement reads. “To millions of fans worldwide, he was the trendsetting, backwards pants-wearing one-half of Kris Kross who loved making music. But to us, he was just Chris – the kind, generous and fun-loving life of the party.”

“Though he was only with us a short time, we feel blessed to have been able to share some incredible moments with him. His legacy will live on through his music, and we will forever love him.”

Kelly and Chris Smith were both 13 producer and rapper Jermaine Dupri discovered them in an Atlanta mall. Their song “Jump” was a worldwide smash in 1992. Kris Kross even toured with the King of Pop Michael Jackson. Not a lot of people can say they did that in their career!!

It’s been reported that Chris Kelly had been using a mix of cocaine and heroin the night before his death. Drugs is something Kelly had an issue with. You hate hear that it was drugs that took anyone’s life. R.I.P. Chris Kelly